Carrier-distributer



J. G. MACLAREN.

CARRIER DISTRIBUTER. APPLlCATlON FILED JAN-22,1915.

RENEWED AUG-20.1%].

Patented Feb. 1, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET L IN VEN TOR.

WITNESSES A TTORNE A 1. e. MACLAREN. CARRIER DISTRIBUTERQ APPLICATION HLE P JAN-22,1915. RENEWED AUG- 20,1917- 1367, 162, Patented Feb. 1, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 2 Fig.2.

[N VENTOR.

\ l ATTORNEY UNl'l'ED STAT ES PATENT OFFICE. A

JAMES o. irrncnnnnn, or nAMARonnoK, new YORK.

GABRIEB DISTBIBUTEB.

nannies.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application. filed January 22, 1915,.eria1 No. 3,677. Renewed August 20, 1917. Serial No. 187,254.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known thatl, Jim ins G. MAoLAnnN, a resident of Mannironeck, county of Westchester, andiitateot New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Carrier-Distrihuters, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to carrier distrihufor carrier systems, and intended to receive carriers from a common transmission means and separate or distribute them according; to classes. The invention is more particularly concerned with a distributor especially adapted :tor use in connectionwith pneumatic despatclji tuhe apparatus, but its usefulness is hy no means limited to pneumatic systems. Win-ere the distributor is used in connection with a pneumatic despatch system carriers despatched througha common tube are sorted according to classes and distributed to the desired points.

The uses of the distributor are many, and it may be adapted to a wide varietyot situations and distribute the carriers for delivery in any direction or at any distance. The can riers may he delivered by the distrihuter into writable separate hoppers, or may he re-de, patched in other pneumatic tube lines, or may be deposited on traveling belts or other means for further transmission.

1 One of the principal uses of the device is the separation of carriers containing; cash from those containing charge account slips, so that upon flITll tll. at the central. stat-ion the carriers containinp, cash pass to cash operators, while those containing charge slips pass to charge operators, thusavoiding dane'er otconthision and mining of carriers of ditlerent classes.

My invention will behest understood by reference to the tollowingz; description when taken in connection with the accompanying (ll'itWlIlP'S at one specific embodiment thereof. wlne its sooggie will he more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

it the drawings: i

Figure 1 is an elevation, partly in vertical sectioin of a carrier distributor embodying my invention showingtho parts in the posit which they normally occupy;

1g. 2 is an elevation, partly in vertical section. of the carrier" distribute]? vlewed "from the opposite side to that shown inFig.

l. and showing the parts in one of the positlons which they occupy when dlstrihutlng carrlers; a i

Patented Feb. 1, 1921.

portion of a carrier apparatus havingcar- .rier transmission means which m ayhe 015 any usualor desired type, but is herein a. pneun'latle despateh tube It. The carrierslfor the transmission of cash shps or. other things have herein shown a common form of carrier These carriers are ottwo classes, differ; ing in form, size or other characteristic whereby they areadapted for cooperation may he of any usual or desired type, but I it with suitable selecting means. In the pres- H ent example the two classes of carriers are PlOVldQtl one with ahead G havlng a pro iectino plug G, andthe other with a head or butter having no such projection. ..(See Figs.

4: and 5.)

The carriers are transmitted through the common transmission tube R regardless oi. the ole sses to which they belong, and are. delivered one at a time into a suitable receiver a. This receiver may be of any. suitable term. and may have associated therewith any suitable means for causing the sorting or distribution of thecarrlers aceordingtothe class to which they belong. Inthe present example, as a means for selectingqoarriers according to classes. I have provided two abutments G and H of .difterent heights, best shown. in Fig. 3, mounted to slidevertically in a: suitable guide F. The abutment ice-ting plug G of a carrier of one class, while the abutment H is adapted for cooperation. with the head or hufl'er H of a carrier o:t another class. The carrier entering the receiverimpinges upon one or the other of these ahutments accordingqto the class to which it belongs, and thereupon such abutment acts throughsuitable means to cause {the carrier to emerge fromthere- G is adapted for cooperation with thepro ceiver atone side or another ofithe path. of

travel of i the carrier as it entered ,the recciver.

In the present instance. the shutments G" andll are a form of? rods mounted to slide in a vertical direction and adapted to be depressed by the impact of the can V normally to hold the abutments G and H e in their uppermost positions and to restore riers. Any'suitable means, such for example as the springs G and H may be employed them to such positions after having been de- 7 pressed by theimpact of carriers.

The abutments-may actuate any suitable form of'motor to cause the sortlng or distribution of the carriers according to classes.

This motor may. take a variety of forms, but in the present example it is of the pneumatic type and comprises the piston B mounted to work in a cylinder B I Opposite ends of this cylinder are herein connected by pipes '15:

C, C and D, D to a common supply pipe E, and the volume of fluid which iasses through. these pipes may be regulated by suitable means, such for example as needle v alvesrc fand D thereby to regulate the speed oftravel of the piston B.

I A supply pipe E maybe connected to any suitable source of supply (not shown), which may supply air pressure to or'exhaust air from the supply plpe.

Normally there will be an equality of the pressures'on opposite sides of the piston B.

This normally existingbalance of pressures may be unbalanced by any suitable means under thecontrol of the abutments G and H. In the present example, for this pur- "poselI have provided vent pipes C and D eommunicating'with the pipes C and D respeetively on opposite sides of the piston 13,

and-leading to chambers F and F respectively controlled by venting valves H ,"andv G Assuming that the supply pipe E is con- 'ne'cted to an exhaust so that pressure below thatofthe atmosphere normally exists on opposite sides of the piston B, when a carrier impinges upon'and depresses one of the abutments G and H the corresponding "controlling that side of the cylinder. It

follows that With this unbalaneing of the previously balanced pressures on opposite sides of the piston, .the latter will move toward'o'ne end or the other of its cylinder according to which of the abutments was struck by the carrier.

The movement of the piston may be utilizedin any suitablemanner to cause the displacement of the carrier in one direction or another according to the class to which it belongs." To thisend the receiver A is movable from its normal position in alinement With the' transmission tube R to one side or the other of the path of travel of the carrier as it enters the receiver, and the latter may be'suitably connected to the piston as by means ofa pistonmod B and link B The receiver A may be supported for such movement-by any other suitable means, but herein is mounted on tracks J, J. The receiver may be, and preferably is, provided with two sets of rollers A, A and A adapted to travel on the tracks J. J. As means for causing the restoration of the receiver to its normal position after having been displaced therefrom through the action of the pistoin the force of gravity may be utilized by making the two tracks J, 'l oppositely inclined so that the receiver constantly tends to gravitate to its normal position in alinement with the despatch tube as shown in Fig. 1. lVith this arrangement it is preferable to make the middle rollers i s larger in diameter than the others to correspond with the inclination of the tracks J, J, and to maintain the receiver always in a vertical position.

It must be evident that when the receiver is displaced toward one side or the other of its normal position. some means must be provided to take care of any succeeding Cidl'lrl arriving at the terminal of the transmission tube B, and to this end the upper portion of the receiver is laterally extended in opposite directions, shown in Figs. 1 and 2, to form two abutments. Under such circumstances the succeedlng carrlcr impinges upon one or the other of these abutments and is arrested 'until the receiver is restored to its normal position, whereupon the carrier drops into the receiver.

lVhen one ventn'lg valve or the other is opened, as hereinbefore described. to cause the displacement of the carrier to one side or the other according to the class to which it belongs, the va vo should remain open a sufficient length of time to insure the displacement of the carrier to the desired point and then close. To this end I have herein provided two latches G and H", normally resting against the lateral surfaces of collars G and H secured to the rods t and H respectively. (See Fig. 1.) These latches are normally pressed inwardly against their respective collars by a spring M encircling a shaft N, on which the latches are pivoted.

When one of the ahutmenls, as for example the abutment G (see Fig. 2) is depressed by the impact of a. carrier, the collar G passes below its latch G and is thus locked in its depressed position against the. upward tendency of the spring G". The other abutment is locked in a similar manner by the other latch.

As a means for unlocking the abutments at the proper times in the operation of the distributer, I have herein provided triggers K and L to actuate the latches G and H respectively, these triggers being arranged in the path of the carriers in such a way as to be displaced from the positions which they ill) i normally occupy, and thereby to act through one venting valve or the other to cause the restoration of the receiver A to its normal position. Thesetriggersmay be otherwise suitably arranged, but in the present exampleI have shown two hoppers O and P to receive the carriers of two classes from the influence of its spring.

While Ihave herein shown and described.

one form or embodiment of my invention for illustrative purposes, and have disclosed and described in detail the construction and arrangements incidental to one specific application thereof, it is to be understood that the inventionis limited neither to the more details or relative arrangement of parts,

nor to its specific embodiment herein shown,

but that extensive deviations from the illustrative form orembodiment ofthe invention may be made Without departing from the principles thereof.

Having thus described one embodiment of my invention, What I claim and desire by *Letters Patent to secure is 2- 1. In a carrier distributor for pneumatic despatchtube apparatuaa transit tube for the transmission of carriers, a receiver for the carriers upon their discharge from the transit tube, a motor for operating said receiver, means actuated by the carrier upon its entering into saidreceiver for starting said motor in operation to move said receiver to deliver said carrier, and means for returning the receiver to its normal position'after the carrier has been discharged from the receiver. i

2. In a carrier distributer for pneumatic despatch tube apparatus, a transit tube for the transmission oi. carriers, a receiver for the carriers upon their discharge from the transit tube, a motorior operating said re ceiver, means actuated by diiierently formed carriers for starting saidmotor inoperatioiti to move said receiver to deliver the carriers, and means for returning the receiver to its normal receiving position after the discharge of the carrier from said distributer.

In a carrier distributer ior pneumatic despatch tube apparatus, a transit tube for thetransmission of carriers, a receiver for the carriers upon their discharge lrom the transittube, a motor for operating said receiver, means actuated bydiiierently formed carriers-for startingsaid motor in operation to move said receiver tofdeliver the carriers, and means actuated by thedischarging car} rier for returning the receiver to its normal t the transmission of carriers, :a receiver for the carr ers upon their discharge from the the or receivin position after the disehargeaof the carrier rom said distributer. a a a 4'. In acarrler dlstributer fonapneumatlc despatch tube apparatus, a translttube for transit tube, a motor for operating said re ceiver and adapted to be actuated by differently formed carriers to move thefreceiver in different directions for the discharge of the carrier, means for normally holding the receiver in positionto receive the carriers from the transit tube, and means adaptedto be actuated by one form of carrier to release and move the recciverin onedirectiontoi delivcra carrier and another form of carrier to release and move the receiver in: another direction to deliver a carrier. a a

In a carrier distributer for a pneumatic despatch tube apparatus, a transit tube for "the transmission. of carriers, a receiver ilor thecarricrs upon theirdischarge from the transit tubeya rnotoriior operating said re CBIVBI and adapted to be actuatedby differently izormed carrlers to move :theireceiver in different directions for the discharge oi the carrier, means for normally holding the receiver in position to receive the carriers from the transit tube,means adapted to be actuated by one form of carrier-[to release and move thereceiver in one direction to de' liver a carrier and another form otcarrier to release andmovethe receiver in another Idii'ectioirto deliver a carrier and means controllcdby the exit oh acarricri'or returning the receiver into alinement with the transit tube to receive :the next carrier. a a

In a carrier C(llStIfIiiJUtQPfOl a pneumatic despatch tubeapparatus a translt tube ifOl the transmission of carriers, a receiver for thecarriers uoentheir dischar e from the transit tube, pneumatically controlled mechtions ior the discharge of the carrier, means for normallyholding the receiver in :positron. to receive the carriers iromthe trans1t t1.1be,end means adapted to be actuated by one "term. oitcarrier to release and move the rocruver in one direction to (iQllVGl adcarrier and another form oi? carrier to release and. more the receiver in another direction to deliver a :arrier.

a carrierdistributor for a pneumatic despatchtube apparatus, a transit tube for the transmission of carriers, a receiver "for I iers" upon their discharge from the transit tub pneumatically controlled mechanisrn ii, operating id receiver andadapted to be actuatedfby differently :irln'med carriers to move the receiver in difierentdirections for the discharge of the carrier, means for normally holding the receiver in position to receive the carriers itrom "the transit tube,

means adapted tobe actuated by one. form of carrier to release and move the receiver in one'direction to deliver a carrier and another form of carrier to release and move the receiver in another direction to deliver a carrler, and-means controlled by the exit of a carrier for returning'the receiver into alinement vviththe transit tube to receive the I the classes to which they belon 9. In a carrier distributer, the combination of a receiver for the carriers, a motor for operating saidreceiver, means actuated by a'carrier upon its entry into said receiver for starting'said motor into operation to'move said'receiver to deliver said carrier, and'means for causing the return of said receiver into its normal position after said carrier has been discharged from said receiver. a

10. In a carrier distributer, the combination of areceiver for the carrier's, a motor for operating said receiver, means actuated by" differently formed carriers for starting said motor into operation to move said receiver in different directions to deliver said carriers, and means for causing the return of saidreceiver to its normal receiving position after the discharge of the carrier from the distributer.

e 11. In a carrier distributer, the combination of a receiver for the carriers, a motor for operating said receiver, means actuated by differently formed carriers for starting said motor into operation to move said receiver in diflerent directions to deliver the carriers, and means actuated by the discharging carrier for causing the return of said receiver to its normal receiving position after the discharge of the carrier from the distributen 12. In a carrier distributer, the combination of a receiver for the carriers, a motor for operating said receiver and adapted to be actuated by differently formed carriers to move said receiver in diflerent directions for the discharge of the carrier, means for normally holding thereceiver in position to receive the carriers, and means adapted to be actuated by one'form of carrier to move said-receiver in one direction to deliver a carrier and by another form of carrier to move said receiver inanother direction to deliver a carrier. 7

13. In a carrier distributer, the combinasaid receiver in another direction to deliver a carrier, and means controlled by the emerging carrier for causing the return of said receiver into position to receive the next carrier.

14. In a carrier distributer, the combination of a receiver for the carriers, pneumatically controlled mechanism for operating said receiver and adapted to be actuated by difi'erently formed carriers to move said receiver in different directions for the discharge of the carrier, means for normally holding the receiver in position to receive the carriers, and means adapted to be actuated by one form of carrier to move said receiver in one direction to deliver a carrier and by another form of carrier to move said receiver in another direction to deliver a carrier.

15. In a carrier distributer, the combination of a receiver for the carriers, pneumatically controlled mechanism for operating said receiver and adapted to be actuated by difl'erently formed carriers to move said receiver in dil ferent directions for the dis charge of the carrier, means for normally holding the receiver in position to receive the carriers, means adapted to be actuated by one form of carrier to move said receiver in one direction and by another form of carrier to move said receiver in another direction to deliver a carrier, and means controlled by the emerging carrier for causing the return of said receiver into position to receive the next carrier.

16. In a carrier apparatus, the combination of means for transmitting carriers toward a given destination, and instrumentalities for separating said carriers according to classes upon their arrival at such destination, said instrumentalities including a motor and means operated by impact of said carriers to energize said motor and cause the same to convey the carriers bodily in one direction or another according to their classes.

17. In a carrier apparatus, the combination of means for transmitting carriers toward their destination, and instrumentalities for distributing said carriers according to classes upon their arrival at such destination, said instrumentalities including a cylinder and a piston to convey said carriers bodily in one direction or another according to their classes.

18. In a carrierapparatus, the combination of means for transmitting carriersto- Ward their destination, and instrumentalie ties for distributing said carriers according to classes upon their arrival at such desti including tion of means for transmitting carriers to-' Ward their destination, and lnstrumentah ities fordistributing said carriers according to classes upon their arrival at such destination, said instrumentalities includ ing motormeans energized by said carriers to propel said carriers and. to cause the same to move in one direction or another according to their classes. a a

21. In a carrier apparatus, the combination of IIlBftDSfOI transmitting carriers toward their destination, and instrumentalities i for distributing said carriers according to classes upon their arrival at such destination, said instrumentalities includ ing. motor means energized by impact oi" said carriers to propel said carriers and to cause the same tomove in one direction or another according totheir classes.

22. In a carrier apparatus, the combinae tioniot means for transmittingcarriers to ward their destination, and instrumentalities for distributing. said carriers acc0rding to classes upon their arrival at such destination, said instrumentalities includ ing motor. means energized by engagement with the forward ends of, said carriers to propel said carriers and to cause the same to movein one direction or another accordingto their classes.

23; In a carrier distributer, the combinationof a receiver forthe carriers, amotor for operating said receiver, means actuated by a carrier receivedby said receiver for causing said motor to move said receiver from. a normal mid-position in generally opposite directions therefrom, and means for causing the restoration of said receiver to said mid-position.

24. In a carrier apparatus, thecombina" tion of means for causing carriers to travel lengthwise ina path in one direction,and carriersarresting. and assorting instrumentalities including means in said path to arrest such travel, and motor means ener' gized by the last-mentioned means to set saidcarriers into motionagain and to cause: them to be assorted by lateral movement in different directions according to their classes.

25. In a carrier apparatus, the combination of means for causing carriers to travel lengthwise in a path in onedirection and carrier-arresting. and assorting instrumentalities including means in said path and mounted to move in such direction to are rest such travel, and motor means enere gazed by the last-mentioned means to set:

. said carriers into motion again and to cause them to be assorted by lateral movementin diii'erent directions according to their classes. a

26. In a carrier apparatus, the combination of means for causing carries to travel lengthwise in a path in one direction, and; carrier-arresting and asserting instrumentalities including yieldingly mounted means in said path, to arrest such travel, and motor means energized by the last-me ntioned' means to set said carriers into motion again and to cause them tosbe asserted by lateral movement in different directions according to their classes.

27; In acarrier apparatus, the combina:

tion of a carrier receiver, means to deliver.

carriers of different classes to said receiver, means constantly. tending to maintain said receiver in a carrier-receiving positiomand carrier-actuated motor means acting in opposition to the last-mentioned means, to move said receiver to any oneof a plurality of carrier-delivering positions depend ing upon the class to which the actuating carrier belongs.

28. In a carrier apparatus, the-combination of a carrier receiver, means to deliver carriers of different: classes to said receiver, means to utilize gravity normally to main tain said receiver in a carrier-receiving position, and carrier-actuated meansacting: in oppositionto the eiiect of gravity to move said receiver to any: oneof a plurality (it carrier-delivering positions depending upon the class to Which the actuating carrier belongs.

29. In a carrier apparatus, the combina tion of means for transmitting carrier-s er. different classes to a commonreceiving point,' a carrier impact-receiving member at said point, and carrier impact-energized motor means to distribute said carriers in different directions according to the diflt'erent classes to which they belong.

30. In a carrier apparatus, thecombination of a transit tube through which carriers of difierent classes are delivered: at acommon receiving point, and instrumens talities selectively to deliver. carriers from. said receiving point according to the classes to which they belong, said instrumentalipressures, and two carrier-actuated, pressure-unbalancing valves to cause said member to move in opposite directions, respec tively.

32. In a carrier apparatus, the combination of a transit tube through which carriers of diflferent classes are delivered at a common receiving point, and instrumentalities selectively to deliver carriers from said receivin point accordin to the classes to which they belong, sai instrumentalities including a pressure fluid operated member normally subject to balanced opposed pressures, and two carrier actuated, pres sure unbalancinc valves to render opposite sides, respectively, of said member one at a time, subject to pressure of the atmosphere.

33. In a carrier apparatus, the combination of a transit'tube through which carriers of different classes are delivered at a common receiving point, and instrumentalities selectively to deliver carriers from said receiving point according to the classes to which they belong, said instrumentalities in cluding a pressure fluid operated member normally subject to balanced opposed pressures, carrier-actuated means to unbalance said pressures, and means operated by movement of'said member in one direction to deliver carriers of one class at one point and operated by movement of said piston in the opposite direction to deliver carriers of another class at another point. 34. In a carrierapparatus, the combination of a transit tube through which carriers of different classes are delivered. at a common receiving point, and instrumentalities selectively to deliver carriers from said receiving point according to the classes to which they belong, said instrumentalities including a pressure fluid operated member normallysubject to opposed balanced pressures, carrier-actuated means to cause an unbalancing of said pressures, and carrieractuated means to cause a restoration of the balance of said pressures.

'35. In a carrier apparatus, the combination of a transit tube through which carriers of-diflerent classes are delivered at a com- 7 mon receiving point, and instrumentalities selectively to deliver carriers from said receiving point according to the classes towhich they belong said instrumentalities including a pressure fluid operated member normally subject to opposed balanced pressures, carrier-actuated valves to cause an unbalancing of said pressures, means to lock said valves in unbalanced pressure positions, and carrier-actuated means to unlock said valves and allow the same to resume their normal positions.

36. In a carrier apparatus, the combination of a transit tube through which carriersot' diiierent classes are delivered at a common receiving point, and instrumentalities selectively to deliver carriers from said receiving point according to the classes to which they belong, said instrumentalities including a pressure fluid operated member normally subject to opposed balanced pressures, different from that of the atmosphere, carrier-actuated valves to cause an unbalancing of said pressures by subjecting one sideor the other of said member to pressure of the atmosphere, means to hold one valve or the other in its unbalanced-pressure position, and carrier-actuated means to release such valve andallow the same to resume its normal position.

37. In a carrier distributer for pneumatic despatch tube apparatus, a transit tube for the transmission of carriers of diiierent classes, a receiver for the carriers upon their discharge from the transit tube, said receiver having a carrier-receiving chamber open to the atmosphere, a receiver-actuating motor, and means selectively actuated by the carriers upon their entrance into said receiver to cause said motor to actuate said receiver to deliver the carriers to diiferent destinations according to the classes to which they belong.

38. In a carrier distributer for pneumatic despatch tube apparatus, a transit tube for the transmission of carriers of different classes, a receiver for the carriers upon their discharge from the transit tube, said receiver having a carrier-receiving chamber having provision to deliver carriers independently of carrier-propelling air current in said transit tube, a receiver-actuating motor, and means selectively actuated by the carriers upon their entrance into said receiver to cause said motor to actuate said receiver to deliver the carriers to different destinations according to the classes to which they belong.

39. In av carrier apparatus, the combination of means for transmitting carriers toward a given destination, and instrumentalities for separating said carriers according to classes upon their arrival at such destination, said instrumentalities being independent of said means and including a motor and means operated by impact of said carriers to energize said motor and cause the same, independently of said means, to direct the carrlers toward elther of two destinations accordlng to their classes.

40. In a carrier apparatus, the combinaoutwardly beyond the outlet end of said tube and operated by engagement with said carriers to arrest the carriers and to energize said motor and cause the same to urge the carriers in one direction or another according to their classes.

ll. In a carrier apparatus, the combination of means including a transmission tube for transmitting carriers toward a given destination, and instrumentalities for sepz'irating said carriers according to classes upon their arrival at such destination, said instrumentalities including a motor and means operated by endwise engagement with the advancing ends of said carriers to energize said motor and cause the same to move said carriers bodilyin one direction or another according to their classes and in directions different from their direction of travel in emerging from said tube.

42. In a carrier apparatus, the combination of means for transmitting carriers toward their destination, and instrumentalities for distributing said carriers according to classes upon their arrival at such destination, said instrumentalities including motor means energized by said carriers to change the direction of travel ofsaid carriers and to cause them to move in one direction or an other according to their classes.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witneses, this 15th of January, A. D. 1915.

JAMES G. MACLAREN.

lVitnesses:

A. F. AUGENBAGHER, ELsm MACLAREN.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,367,162, granted February 1,

1921, upon the application of James G'. Maclaren, of Mamaroneck, New York, for

an improvement in Carrier-Distributers, an error appears in the printed specifieation requiring correction as follows: Page 5, line 84, claim 26, for the Word carries read carriers; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oflice.

Signed and sealed this 15th day of March, A. D., 1921.

[SEAL] M. H. GOULSTON,

Commissioner of Patents. Cl. 243-424. 

